Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Apprentice's Journey

Chapter 19- Realising

"Wake up!" a voice snapped at the cat.
The tom leaped to his paws, his fur bristling.

"What?" he asked.

"Can't you feel it, mouse-brain?" the voice growled. "Help the cat you promised to help!"

Why didn't I feel that earlier? the tom thought in shock, realising the situation. I have to go.

"Run there!" the voice snapped. "There's no time to lose!"

The tom had already taken off.

~~~~

Frostpaw's neck was bleeding, but not as bad as she had expected. She could hardly breathe properly, and searing pain was forming at her neck.

She could see the details of the cat's appearance now. The tom's dark gray fur was slightly ruffled, but the tabby pelt was sleek.

He curled his lip, reading his claws for a blow to Frostpaw's throat.

I can't die after all that! she thought desperately in her mind. I didn't make a long journey to die before fulfilling the task StarClan and Goldenstar gave me! I didn't survive a raging fire just to die to an enemy who I can't attack!

"No!" a voice roared.

An exact copy of the cat that attacked her landed in front her.

"I will not let this continue!" he hissed at the other tom.

"Why not?" the other tom's voice became taunting. "Why can't you submit to the darkness in front of you that you have once acknowledged and accepted?"

What is going on? Frostpaw thought.

"I know what's right," he retorted. "That is to destroy the past I do not wish to keep."

The tom in front of her brought his claws down on the other tom's head.

Frostpaw blinked in surprise when the other tom disappeared. "What just happened?" she stammered.

"It's okay now," the tom turned to her. His eyes were amber instead of the reddish amber colour she saw one the first cat.

"Who are you?" Frostpaw demanded, afraid that the tom may do something wrong.

"I am..." the tom sounded hesitant, "a StarClan cat."

"You can't be a StarClan cat," Frostpaw growled angrily. "You don't have stars in your fur."

She widened her eyes. "You are from the Dark Forest!"

The tom avoided her gaze. "Yes."

"Why are you here?" Frostpaw growled, unsheathing her claws instinctively.

"To help you," he mewed simply.

"Help me?" she mewed disbelievingly. "You are a Dark Forest cat! You are supposed to be evil!"

"I was," he mewed, bending his head in shame. "But a StarClan cat asked me to guide you and-"

"So you were the 'StarClan' cat that spoke in my head?" Frostpaw mewed in shock. "Why would StarClan ask you for help anyways?"

"StarClan have different skies," he explained with a cautious look. "It is difficult to travel from one part to another... that's why they sent me, for I died here..."

"How did you get into the Dark Forest?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I..." he hesitated.

Frostpaw backed away from him. "Tell me," she insisted.

Maybe it's the only way she could trust me...

"I led a group of rogues to destroy a Clan," the words felt dry on his tongue.

Frostpaw widened her eyes in horror, looking as though she had realised something.

"You are... Bloodfang!" she gasped. "The one who tried to destroy DragonClan!"

"But I've changed," he mewed lamely. "I'm trying to make up for it."

"Dark Forest cats can't be trusted," Frostpaw retorted. "Stay away from me!"

"StarCla-" he began.

"I don't believe you," she growled.

"I never hurt you!" he yowled, his voice filled with pain. "I saved you - in fact - from a rogue, and didn't lie to you! Why can't you believe me?"

"Because you are still in the Place of No Stars." After Frostpaw spoke those words, she blacked out.

~~~~

"Are you okay?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

Frostpaw was trembling. She had experienced another dream of some sort, and it felt so real.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to remember the cat's name.

"I'm Ripplelight," the she-cat replied softly. "I found you trashing in your sleep. Are you okay?"

"Yes," Frostpaw was relieved to not see any injuries on her pelt or neck. "I just got a bad dream."

That seems so real and frightening.

"Okay then," Ripplelight mewed. "Goldenstar is expecting you to meet him at the camp entrance when the sun is at its peak."

Frostpaw nodded.

"Oh, and I want to ask you something," Ripplelight added. "Um... do you have a brown tom with light amber eyes in your Clan?"

"Spikethorn," she replied. "A cat told me that he had returned to our Clan quite recently after being away so long."

"I see," she muttered. "Thanks for telling me."

There are questions that I can't find answers to, Frostpaw sighed as Ripplelight padded off to join a patrol. I just hope it's not too late to discover some of them.

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A/N: So... how is the chapter? I would like to hear your opinions. :D

P.S. I might end the book at 25 or so chapters.